Recognized Nations Supporting the Palestinian State

The Middle Eastern conflict, long a source of contention, has seen a shift in international support for a resolution. Many Western nations, including the US, Canada, Australia, several Western European states, Japan, and South Korea, have expressed their support for an independent Palestinian state coexisting with Israel. However, these countries will only recognize the Palestinian territories as an independent nation within the framework of a comprehensive peace agreement.

This movement towards recognition began in earnest in 2011, when Iceland became the first Western European country to recognize Palestine as a state. Sweden followed suit in 2014. The trend continued with France becoming the first G7 country to announce its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood, followed by Canada, Malta, and Australia.

Colombia declared Palestine a sovereign nation in 2018, and since the Israeli offensive on Gaza, Colombia has reduced its political and economic relations with Israel. President Gustavo Petro has cut ties with Israel and opened an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Mexico announced its full support for Palestinian statehood in June 2023 and established a full embassy with all privileges and immunities in the Palestinian territories. As of now, 147 countries have officially recognized the Palestinian territories as a state.

The United Nations General Assembly will discuss Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution on September 9. France, Canada, Australia, Malta, and the United Kingdom have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow and Middle East expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, suggests that countries such as Spain, Sweden, and Belgium could potentially recognize the Palestinian territories as an independent state in the future.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized these moves as "shameful" and claimed they would not bring peace. The Palestinian territories already have non-member observer status at the UN, and full UN membership can only be decided upon by the UN Security Council. The United Kingdom would also recognize a Palestinian state if Israel takes significant steps towards peace in the Gaza Strip.

Germany, as one of the staunchest supporters of Israel in the EU, is unlikely to change its position on recognizing the state of Palestine. However, the growing international support for Palestinian statehood indicates a shift in global sentiment towards a resolution to the Middle Eastern conflict.

This article was originally published on May 25, 2024, and updated on August 11, 2025. Anchal Vohra contributed to this report.

\n\nUpdate (August 11, 2025): The UN General Assembly discussed Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution on September 9, 2024. France, Canada, Australia, Malta, and the United Kingdom recognized a Palestinian state at the assembly, as did Spain, Sweden, and Belgium, following Hugh Lovatt's prediction. Germany, however, maintained its position on recognizing the state of Palestine. The discussion continues as the international community seeks a peaceful resolution to the Middle Eastern conflict.